The JR Tokyo Wide Pass is one of the best value travel passes you can get in Japan. For a flat fee covering three consecutive days of unlimited travel, you can hop on Shinkansen, Limited Express trains, and local JR lines to explore Tokyo and a huge swath of the surrounding region, from the slopes of Mount Fuji to the hot springs of Nikko.
Whether you're a tourist passing through or a foreign resident based in Tokyo, this pass is worth serious consideration if you're planning to do any exploring beyond the city.
Get the Tokyo Wide Pass on Klook How much is it?
The pass costs ¥16,000 for adults and ¥8,000 for children aged 6 to 11. Kids under 6 travel free as long as they don't need their own seat. Note that a separate fee applies if you want to upgrade to the Green Car or GranClass, and youth/student discounts are not available for this pass.
What do you get?
The pass gets you three consecutive days of unlimited travel on JR trains in Tokyo and the surrounding areas. You can start using it as soon as you arrive in Japan to travel into the Tokyo metropolitan area. You can use it to travel on Shinkansen and Limited Express trains (there are a few exceptions). You can use it to visit many popular tourist destinations like Mount Fuji and Nikko. You can even use it to travel on some non-JR trains like Fujikyuko Railway.
Just keep in mind that if you're planning to ride the Fujisan Express, Fujisan View Express, or Fuji Tozan Densha on the Fujikyu Railway, you'll need to pay an additional fee for reserved seats. Similarly, if you're heading further north on the Tohoku Shinkansen, note that a supplement fee is required for Hayabusa and Komachi trains.
Who can buy it?
The Tokyo Wide Pass is available to anyone holding a non-Japanese passport—both tourists and foreign residents living in Japan. Note that Japanese passport holders cannot use this pass, even if they hold permanent residency or have lived abroad. Even some temporary visitors may find it is the most useful pass to buy if they intend to use Tokyo as a base.
If you're travelling with young children, kids under 6 who don't need their own seat travel free without a pass. For children aged 6–11, the child fare applies based on their age on the day of purchase. Make sure to bring a passport or similar document to verify their age. You can only hold one pass at a time, so you can't purchase two overlapping passes for back-to-back trips.
Where to buy and how to use?
You can purchase the JR Tokyo Wide Pass online on the JR-EAST Train Reservation website or in-person at a ticket office in Japan. For both methods, you must show your passport.
- If you purchase the pass online, you can pick it up at a Reserved Seat Ticket Vending Machine with a passport reader or a Travel Service Center.
- Once you are in Japan, you can also purchase it a Reserved Seat Ticket Vending Machine with a passport reader or Travel Service Center.
- List of applicable Reserved Seat Ticket Vending Machines and Travel Service Centers
You can go through automatic ticket gates with this pass. Be sure to collect your ticket once you pass through the gate. If there aren't any automatic ticket gates available, please present your ticket to the train staff. You must carry your passport with you and show it if asked.
You can obtain a reserved seat ticket at a JR EAST Reserved Seat Ticket Vending Machine, JR Ticket Office (Midori-no-Madoguchi) or Travel Center. There is no extra charge for a reserved seat.
Which train lines can you use?
You can use the Tokyo Wide Pass on all JR East lines including Shinkansen Lines (but not the Tokaido Shinkansen, which is run by a different company). You can also use it on the Tokyo Monorail, the entire Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit Rinkai Line, and the Saitama New Urban Transit Line (New Shuttle)—between Omiya and the Railway Museum. The Tokyo Wide Pass is also valid for travel on the Izu Kyuko Line (to Izu), the Fujikyu Railway to Kawaguchiko, and the Joshin Dentetsu Line.
The pass also covers reserved seats in ordinary cars on the limited express trains that run through from JR East onto the Tobu Railway —specifically the Nikko, the Kinugawa, and the SPACIA Kinugawa. Local and rapid trains between Shimo-imaichi and Tobu-nikko/Kinugawa-onsen are also included. One thing to note: between Kurihashi and Shimo-imaichi you can only travel on the through limited express trains, and at least one end of your journey must be a JR station when boarding or alighting at Tochigi, Shimo-imaichi, Shin-kanuma, Tobu-nikko, Tobu World Square, or Kinugawa-onsen.
Where can you go?
Not only can you use the pass for getting around Tokyo, but it makes accessing Tokyo's neighboring prefectures easy. You can base yourself in Tokyo and take day trips to any of these great places.
Gunma Prefecture
Visit Kusatsu Onsen Town and soak in hot springs - if you can stand the heat! Visit Haruna Shrine, one of the most beautiful, atmospheric and impressive shrines I have ever visited. How about going rafting and canyoning in Minakami?
Tochigi Prefecture
Visit fabulous Tōshō-gu, then spend the rest of the day wandering around the charming town of Nikkō. You could take a bus to Lake Chuzenji and check out nearby Kegon Falls which is probably Japan's most famous waterfall. You could also visit Kinugawa Onsen in Tochigi.
Saitama Prefecture
If you like bonsai, you'll definitely want to see Omiya Bonsai Village, and if you like trains there is a huge Railway Museum one stop from Omiya Station. If you don't mind a longer journey I can recommend Nagatoro as a great place to explore.
Ibaraki Prefecture
Impressive Fukuroda Falls, Hitachi Seaside Park, and one of Japan's most famous gardens, Kairakuen, are all found in Ibaraki. You can also visit a sumo school there.
Chiba Prefecture
Beautiful beaches, major theme parks like Disneyland, Disney Sea, and Kamogawa SeaWorld, and Narita Airport
Yamanashi Prefecture
See Maizuru Castle Park and walk the Inishie-no-michi trail in Kofu. Go hiking in beautiful Shosenkyo Gorge, explore Lake Kawaguchi in the shadow of Mount Fuji and see the fairy tale Monkey Bridge in Otsuki. Go and pick your own peaches or grapes. Visit one of Japan's famous hot spring towns, Isawa Onsen.
Nagano Prefecture
One favorite summer getaway for trendy Tokyo-ites is Karuizawa in Nagano.
Niigata Prefecture
How about a ski trip to Echigo-Yuzawa? The pass covers Gala Yuzawa, which is one of the most popular ski resorts accessible from Tokyo — and during ski season, pass holders get discounts on lift tickets, ski rental, and onsen admission at the resort. Just keep in mind that Gala Yuzawa Station only operates during winter and spring, so it's not an option if you're visiting in summer. If you come to Japan in summer, you could go fishing instead.
Shizuoka Prefecture
Explore the Izu peninsula with its beautiful beaches, shrines and temples. There's also a gold mine where you can actually try gold panning, an orchid sanctuary, an alligator garden and some great hiking trails.
Kanagawa Prefecture
Yokohama is a wonderful area just a short journey from the center of Tokyo. The lights of Minato Mirai are beautiful at night. Yokohama Chinatown and the historic houses in Yamate District. Then there's Kamakura, where you could easily spend a satisfying day (or maybe evening?) visiting temples and shrines and just soaking up the great ambience that the area has.
Time to make a plan
With so many great places to go you'll probably have trouble deciding how to use your JR Tokyo Wide Pass!
